South Glen Shiel Ridge Walk

Route Description for South Glen Shiel Ridge Walk

The South Glen Shiel Ridge in Scottish Highlands is a fantastic activity for adventure seekers wanting to bag several (7 to be exact) Munros in one go! This is a popular full-day hike for avid walkers as not only is it an incredible feat to tackle seven summits higher than 9,144 m, but walking the grassy crest along the ridge grants phenomenal views. It's recommended to download a GPS as some spots can be tricky to navigate. And keep in mind that the start of the walk pushes a switchbacking ascent, and on the other side of the ridge, you'll take on a steep descent. Your shaky legs may have some troubles dipping down the ridge at the tail-end of the walk!

First, you'll summit Creag a' Mhaim, which stands high at 947 m. However, when you reach the top and pause to catch the views (and your breath), you can revel in the fact that you just tackled the most challenging part of this walk! From here, you'll climb to the second Munro, Druim Shionnach 987 m, which you can take via a narrow path or bypass this and use the less-technical approach on your left.

You'll reach the third peak 3km later, Aonach air Chrith, the tallest of this adventure—intimidating at 1,021 m. Follow some minor undulations and a slight dip in elevation before reaching the next summit, Maol Chinn-Dearg. Next, you'll go to Sgùrr an Doire Leathain, which has you taking on a slower ascent. The sixth Munro, Sgùrr an Lochain, requires a slight detour off the main path. Bask in the scenery by heading back to the ridge and toward the final Munro! After you have the option to check out another summit (not a Munro) or you can take the walker-created path to skip this and head to the final Munro, Creag nan Dàmh. This section requires a short scramble, so hopefully, your limbs have the energy to reach the top!

After the last peak, continue along the ridge for 2.0 km. At the tiny cairn, go north for the more intense descent. Remember to plan how to get back to your car, as this is a one-way route.